Some Recipes!

There is one side dish in my family that is a no brainer: diced tomatoes.

Take some fresh, ripe tomatoes that have never been refrigerated. Dice them. Toss them with a pinch of kosher salt.

Put a couple of table spoons of the bright, juicy tomato love on your plate next to your steaming white rice and your garlicy adobo. Or vinagery pork chop. Or longanisa. See what I mean by no brainer? or with lumpia breakfast.

Here's a sixty second appetizer and another no brainer: cool cumbersticks with soy sauce.

Peel and wedge an English or Japanese cucumber. An american cucumber will work too, but you might have to core it. Or not, it's not that big of a deal. Pile cucumber sticks on a clean white plate, bring it out to your friends, and then drizzle with rich soy sauce.

I know it sounds simple, but I had a guest actually applaud once. Simple gifts ...